My cat is pregnant. What are the signs of labor for a first-time mom?

Hello. There are 3 stages of labor in the cat. First stage: The cervix dilates & uterine contractions begin. The queen may become restless, exhibit excessive grooming, purr, scratch the nesting box/area, & pace during this stage. At the end of the first stage, the queen will settle into her nesting box/area. The first stage can last from a few hours up to 24 hours. Stage two: Delivery of the kittens. Strong abdominal contractions are visible & the first litten is usually delivered within 60 minutes of seeing the contractions. Kittens are usually delivered every 30-60 minutes, but delivery can last 16-18 hours. Third stage: Delivery of the fetal membranes although this may happen concurrently with second stage labor. Delivery of the kittens is interspersed with the delivery of the placentas, too. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It could be a sign of impending labor! But not 100%. I would give her space and limit the number of people hovering around her and checking on her. Cats can delay labor when stressed. Leave her in a quiet room with a litter box, food and water. Provide a comfortable box or bed for her to have the babies. Check on her every few hours. Good luck!

We have limited space and cannot give you all the details here but I can direct you to a couple of websites that will give you all you need. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2139&aid=919 https://www.petplace.com/article/cats/pet-health/what-to-expect-when-you-are-expecting-kittens/ Hope this helps. If you have more questions after reading this you are welcome to post again.

Although the timing would be right, normally signs of labour include restlessness and nesting. The closer to the birth they are, they more queens tend to sleep because of the extra weight put on and being more tired and less agile. So in general I would not say that this is a sign of imminent labour.

Gestation is about 63-65 days, so you should be seeing signs of labor soon. If your timing is right, it should be any day now. You may be slightly off on your timing and maybe she has been pregnant for less time than you think? Look for signs of labor such as nesting behavior, vocalization, being more affectionate, licking the vulva and a change in appetite. Cats do not always give clear signs of labor like dogs so it can be tricky sometimes to notice when a cat is in labor. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Your kitty will pick the place she thinks is perfect, so you can try to put the box where she is resting. No point in arguing with her. Cat mamas know best. So if she is coming for cuddles, give her cuddles as long as she wants them. eventually she will either go away to have her babies, or have them on your lap if she so sees fit.

A small amount of a blood tinged discharge or "spotting" from the vagina is normal just before or during labor. Monitor her, but don't stress her out or she may delay the delivery. Most cats will [deliver a litter](https://www.petcoach.co/article/queening-giving-birth-in-cats) without human intervention. Provide a quiet, warm, dimly lit, clean area for her to deliver then back away. If the discharge becomes heavier or transitions to active bleeding, then she should be seen by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER immediately. After all the [kittens](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-myths-about-kittens) have been delivered and the mom has settled down, consider an exam with your veterinarian to confirm good health for your new little family.